the key to happiness - dramione

(8)

Hermione Granger, age 24, working as Draco Malfoy's assistant at the ministry. Engaged to Ronald Weasley, lives in a small cottage by the sea.

Draco Malfoy, age 23, working at the ministry. Dating Astoria Greengrass. Lives alone in Malfoy Manor.

- - - - -
Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy are sitting in the dining room together in Malfoy Manor and having lunch together when Hermione suddenly impulsively drops a bomb. Something that she after all doesn't regret saying afterwards.

"I don't like Ron." she blurts out. "I used to. I loved him, but it's like I've been feeling like it's all gone. I'm unhappily engraved to him but I just can't speak out about it. You know, what would happen then?"

"Granger." Draco says. "So that's sudden. But like uhm, how did things end up like this?"
"That's the the thing, I don't know." she mumbles back and eats a bite of food
"You gotta leave Weasley."
"I know."

"Not later, you gotta do it as soon as possible. Because it will just hurt you both the more you wait."
"But...."
"Tomorrow. I'll come with you if you'd like."
"But..."

"You'll be stuck forever if you just keep pretending that you love him."
"I know, you might be right this time Malfoy." Hermione admits. After that a silent moment follows.

Hermione Jean Granger has decided. She's going to break off the engagement with Ronald. She doesn't love him, in in that case it's wrong. So she just got to end it. Draco is right.

They eat the meal and some hours later Pansy, Daphne, Theodore and Blaise arrives. Draco leads them all to the ballroom.
"Thought we would be sleeping here tonight."
"So you were not planning for us to throw a ball this evening?" Daphne says unserious.

"Obviously not." Draco laughs. Pansy takes out her wand and six beds appear, they are placed against the wall. Then she creates group of sofas by the fireplace on the other side of the room.

"Alright." Daphne smiles and puts her things on one of the beds. "This is mine." Hermione takes the one next to Daphne and Draco the bed next to Hermione. Pansy takes the bed on the other side of Daphne.

Blaise next to Draco and Theodore next to Pansy. Then they all go and sit down on the sofas and Draco starts the fire.
"A few days ago I heard about a muggle game. Spin the bottle." Pansy says suddenly.
"Oh my God." Hermione exclaims.

"Does anyone have an empty bottle?" Pansy asks. Daphne uses her wand to get an empty plastic bottle. So they start playing the game and Pansy spins first. After a few rounds, the bottle ends up on Hermione.

"Hermione." Pansy says. "Kiss one person in the room." Suddenly everyone goes quiet. For several minutes not a single word is spoken. But suddenly Hermione stands up. She walks up to Draco and pulls him up on his feet. Just a quick kiss and then it's enough, Hermione decides.

She stands on her toes and meets his soft lips. But it's not just a quick kiss. It continues. Draco pulls a hand through Hermione's hair and she placed her hands around his head. Their friends around them are all completely silent.

Pansy yawns and Daphne smiles. Blaise gives Pansy a look while Theodore tries to ignore Draco and Hermione. It must have taken several minutes for them to let go of each other. Hermione's smile is now so different that you can barely recognize her.

Draco sits back down on the couch and Hermione returns to her seat. The silence continues until Theodore opens his mouth.
"Okay, now we're done with this game." he says and throws the bottle out the door.

Draco grins at him.
"How about we have dinner?" Blaise suggests.
"Let's." Draco answer and they all head towards the dining room where the house elves already have set up a meal. They immediately start eating and barely talk during dinner.

A knock on the front door is heard as their dinner is almost over. Draco hurries to the door to open it. He is shocked when it's Astoria standing outside. He doesn't let her in, instead he puts on shoes and a jacket and goes out with her.

"What are you doing here?" he asks confused.
"Obviously visiting."
"I have other visitors."
"Whoever it is I'm sure..."
"Your sister, my other friends."
"Granger too?"

"She's here yes."
"I knew that."
"What do you mean?"
"You've got lipstick on your chin and it's her colour."
"What?!" Draco exclaims, taking his hand to wipe it off.

"I can't believe you're cheating and with Granger. WITH GRANGER!"
"No no no, nothing happened Astoria, all my friends are here!"
"Just shut up! So you're saying that if everyone else weren't here it would've? I know exactly what you've done! You probably fucked her at work too."

"No."
"Yes, just admit it!" Astoria shouts furiously.
"I didn't hook up with Granger, Pansy dared us to kiss! That's all. I would never hook up with Granger, she's Granger!"
"And you agreed to that. You're an adult. You're an arse. Leave me alone and I don't want to see you again." is the last thing she shouts.

She runs away from the house and Draco is left alone in the garden. Then he turns to enter again. On the stairs outside the doors he sees all his friends.
"Oh my god." he sighs. "I think she dumped me? But we were barely dating?"

"I did not know you were in a relationship." Daphne mumbles. Hermione is completely silent. Because what should she say? Draco Malfoy just shouted that he would never hook up with her, because she's her. Not because she would want to hook up with him or so, just, what did he mean by it?